Time does fly, doesn’t it? It has been two months since my last blog, which means I have not fulfilled my plan of getting a blog published every month of 2024: there was none in April. One could say that I am a bit under pressure, as June is about to finish, therefore not many days left to get these words written down. However, sometimes life has other plans for us, sometimes our intentions cannot simply go ahead, and sometimes we just have to accept that we did our best. I am confident that my eagerness will suffice and I will get this blog posted soon. I hope though, that my inspiration will decide to join in and give me a hand. I was supposed to be sitting down on the bench in our courtyard but it is dull and drizzling, although it is officially summer! My usual cupán tae, candle flickering away, let’s get down to business.
Seven years ago, on a day like today I was on the ferry from Cherbourg on my way to the Emerald Isle. I was so excited, so thrilled, so happy: my car was packed to the roof, plenty of adventures ahead of me, lots of blank pages to fill in, many unknown paths to follow, a great deal of hope to get my life back on track! The first thing I did after getting myself checked into my cabin on the ferry, was to walk up to the stern deck and watch mainland Europe disappear in the horizon. In a way, I guess, I was saying goodbye to what I had to leave behind, to what I needed to leave behind, to what I wanted to leave behind. The first thing I did the following morning was to walk up to the prow deck and watch the Emerald Isle appear on the horizon. In a way, I guess, I was saying hello to a brand new opportunity to be me again, to a great chance to rediscover what I wanted, to an amazing possibility of following my own path. I was brave to leave my comfort zone, I was strong to embrace the unfamiliar unknown, I was bold to listen to my inner voice and go for it! It still looks like yesterday, although seven years have gone by in the blink of an eye.
“In a way, I guess, I was saying goodbye to what I had to leave behind, to what I needed to leave behind, to what I wanted to leave behind.”
I have no regrets, just that if I had not followed my dream and bought a one-way ferry ticket, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. My soul was in desperate need of finding peace, my heart deserved to discover true love, I was craving for letting myself rise from the ashes of my former life. It has been such an incredible experience to live, such an unforgettable rollercoaster of emotions, such an exceptional treasure trove of memories to relish. Probably words cannot reflect its whole dimension. I have had my ups and downs, away from my family. I have endured moments of solitude and despair. I have cried deeply, I have laughed so loudly. There have been times when I could not find my way, when I thought things would not work out, when I was close to giving up. Nevertheless, I would definitely follow my dream again, well worth the sacrifices, the struggles, the hardships.
It has been a journey for me to grow, for finding the true essence of who I am, for me to find out what I wanted out of life. It has been a path for my soul to conquer peace, for my heart to heal, for my mind to reconcile with my past. It has been a chance for myself to overcome loss, for myself to accept my mistakes, for myself to be free to shine for who I am. How grateful I am! A pilgrimage to rediscover myself, to regain confidence, to be simply me. Every now and then, I remind myself of how brave I was. Every so often, I say to myself that I did what was right for me. Now and again, I congratulate myself for such an amazing achievement. So proud of having been so determined to follow my dream! I was just rereading my blog on my five years in Ireland, as my partner suggested, and funny enough my words are on the same line as back then. At least, I am consistent. Not much has changed since then, although I actually thought the seven years in Ireland blog would bring a new approach. Despite having settled in the Emerald Isle, with a decent job that I enjoy, letting my creativity flow with my crafts and blogs, making the most out of every opportunity by being out and about, sharing life with my partner who accidentally became my soul mate, being just me; over the last two years, there have also been struggles. Those we all have to deal with, however having moved to another country has provided me with a great set of skills, with a massive injection of resilience, with the wisdom to stay calm and positive, with the strength to overcome difficulties without panicking too much, and of course with the ability to say “it is grand” even though everything is falling apart.
“ and of course with the ability to say “it is grand” even though everything is falling apart.”
You have to take a leap of faith and go for your dreams. It can seem scary, it can look too difficult, it can look like an impossible mission. You may think you will not be able to make your dream come true, you may believe that you are making the wrong decision; you may even assume you have just gone nuts. People will rush to judge you, people will dare to convince you not to do it, people will be people. My advice is just to ignore all I have just said, so listen to your own inner voice and go for it!
I guess it is time for me to focus on my next dream… getting a book published! Living in a cottage by the sea somewhere along the south or the west coast of the Emerald Isle will have to wait. On an ongoing basis, I have been told that my writing is outstanding, that I have a peculiar style that goes beyond the mere words, that I have a well of wisdom to share, and am a source of soul inspiration. I have also received a few orders for my future book, so I should start working on this new exciting project, shouldn’t I?
They say, “Future belongs to those who believe in their dreams”. However, I say, “Follow your own path, and work hard for your dreams”
Jay Cee Moon ©
Jaycee Moon 